Abstract: There is provided a bridge structure for a stringed instrument. A member supports a ridge over which the strings of the stringed instrument are strung. For each string, one end is secured at a location on the instrument which is remote from the member, the member supporting, for each string, a guide pulley around which the other end of the string passes. Means are provided for snagging the other end of the string, which means includes sub-means on the member whereby rotational torque is applied to the member. Suspension means are provided to support the member from the instrument body in such a way as to counteract that rotational torque.

Abstract: A string instrument, such as a guitar, has a resonance body and a bridge provided with a string-contacting surface. A string-supporting element is provided on the body and a string-securing device is also provided on the body but is separate from and spaced from the bridge and has a second string-contacting surface. One or more sound openings are provided in the resonance body and surround a center region of the bridge. A string-deflecting element is also provided on the center region of the bridge spaced from and opposite the first string-contacting surface.

Abstract: An adjustable bridge for a stringed musical instrument is positionable at a selected position longitudinally of the strings of the instrument. The bridge is provided with a plurality of individually adjustable saddles which are mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the strings. Each saddle is provided with a dual height and composition insert. The bridge is of varying height laterally of the strings to provide for relatively uniform spacing from the instrument body.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having a plurality of strings stretched over the sounding board of a sounding box includes a corresponding bridge for each string. Each bridge rests on the sounding board and may be translated along the corresponding string to thereby change the functional vibrating length of the string and hence change the pitch of the musical tone produced when the string is set into vibration. Each string passes through a bore extending through the corresponding bridge so that the bridge does not disengage from the corresponding string (and possibly become misplaced or lost) when the bridge is translated, when the string is in a non-stretched condition, or when the instrument is jolted.

Abstract: A guitar having a split level top of its sound box which thus is formed at two different (vertically separated) levels and connected by an angular cross bridge to which one end of the strings is anchored so as to directly vibrate the chamber. The result is an increased sound volume and resonance persistance which is achieved without the distortion that may result from electronic amplification when applied to conventional guitars or other stringed musical instruments.

Abstract: A guitar is provided which, while being held in the traditional guitar playing position, may be strummed or bowed interchangeably, as desired. This is accomplished by constructing the nut, neck and bridge each to be formed having an arcuate surface to support the strings in an arcuate disposition. Furthermore, when the guitar is held in the traditional, generally vertical position, the corresponding upper edge portions of the nut, neck and bridge are raised so as to be greater in height than the opposite edge portions thereof to locate the arcuate surfaces asymmetrically relative to the body of the instrument to support the strings either for strumming, plucking or bowing.

Abstract: An improved fret, nut and/or, bridge saddle for stringed instruments comprises a polished aluminum oxide ceramic. The ceramic of this invention is long lasting and provides improved tonal clarity, and can increase greatly the ease with which a strummed instrument can be played.

Abstract: A device for use with a musical instrument to facilitate independent adjustment of the spatial relationship between fretboard and each string.

Abstract: In a bridge for stringed instruments of the type including a base member, a plurality of drums, and means connecting the drums to the base member in end-to-end relationship for independent lateral movement in two orthogonal directions to separately adjust the length and height of each string, there is disclosed an improved construction wherein the strings are conducted into engagement with the drums so as to apply an axial force to each of the drums to urge all of the drums axially into contact with each other and the first drum into contact with a fixed abutment on the base member.

Abstract: An integrated carrier/saddle structure for securing strings to an acoustic guitar which eliminates structural loading that inhibits the motion of the sounding board and provides adjustable coupling of the string vibrations to the diaphram formed by the guitar sounding board. The carrier member, to which the strings are attached, is mounted independently of the sounding board and is incorporated into the saddle structure through an aperture with an adjustment means being provided to vary the height of the carrier with respect to the saddle to optimize the coupling force between the strings and sounding board. A removable cover, attached to the saddle, is provided to enclose the aperture formed around the extension of the carrier member through the saddle structure and the adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A panel having a rear wall is movably secured to the lower portion of a guitar body by a pair of screws allowing it to be moved toward and away from the guitar body. A sliding member is disposed in the panel under each guitar string, with a string contacting member secured on top of each slidable member and itself being slidable laterally thereon. Accordingly, guitar strings can be adjusted up and down the guitar, toward and away from the body, and across the fretboard, to thereby achieve optimum intonation and playability.

Abstract: A guitar or other fretted stringed musical instrument includes intonation adjustment means comprising an aperture underlying a string at the instrument's bridge and a saddle rotatably received within the aperture. The saddle carries a string supporting surface operable in a cam-like manner for adjusting the vibrating length of the string in response to rotation of the saddle within the aperture.

Abstract: A stringed instrument is disclosed which incorporates improved design and performance features. An elongated body, hereinafter called the wedge, contains in itself all necessary components and parts making it a totally playable instrument with or without a pair of removable wing bodies. One purpose of the wing body attachments is to provide flexibility for modular electronic add-on components for use with new modern amplification devices. Also the wing bodies may be changed to provide a varity of instrument body designs, colors, finishes and fabrics. The sound produced by each of the strings of the instrument is enhanced by providing each string with at least one individual magnetic pickup which is individually adjustable to that string for optimum performance. Each string is also provided with its own individual bridge support which is completely separated from each other bridge support to prevent any acoustical and/or electrical cross-feed.

Abstract: A bridge pin for guitar or the like is formed of a heavy metal, such as brass to materially increase the presence and the sustain of the instrument.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having a body which includes a top, back and a neck, with a varied number of strings. The top is a flat sound board assembly, with a sound hole, which has a bridge and, on the underside, a bracing system mounted to the board and directly connected by fasteners through the board to the bridge for transmitting string vibrations via the bridge fasteners and braces on the board to the body interior. The back is a molded unit specifically shaped to increase the volume of sound produced by focalizing and directing it through the sound hole in the board. The combination of the direct fastener connection, bracing system and curved back for focussing the vibrations increases the sound volume and quality.

Abstract: This is a method and apparatus for performing the method, for the use of tremolo devices complimented by string restraining assemblies for guitars which are designed in such manner that the tremolo device can be used without altering the basic tuning when the tremolo device returns to the normal, inactive, position. The method and device incorporate the use of a tremolo device base plate anchoring means anchoring the tremolo device base plate to the face of the guitar at a tilt point in such manner that there is no movement allowed other than the normally desired tremolo tilting movement. This is accomplished by utilization of special anchoring means, string restraining assemblies, and means to return the tremolo device to its original starting position when being inactivated.

Abstract: A frame in which the body of a string instrument is supported, the frame having a main bar extending longitudinally in spaced relation to the back of the instrument body. The frame extends with end-pieces adapting to the ends of the said body, such end-pieces having clips applicable to the said ends by way of semi-hard inserts to dispose the body floatingly. One end-piece also extends with the neck and fret or string board of the instrument, while the other end-piece returns with a tail piece receiving the inner ends of the strings and formed as a bridge. The main bar is longitudinally adjustable for different lengths of instrument bodies.

Abstract: A string vibration transducer bridge for an electric string instrument including a plurality of string tension mechanism provided side by side in the bridge and which are adjustably movable along the direction of the string and includes a plurality of string supporting electrode parts which are slidably movable along the direction of the string and rotatable along a direction perpendicular to the string, a plurality of independent piezoelectric transducers which each engage with an undersurface of an electrode part, and a plurality of piezoelectric transducer pushing mechanisms for pushing the piezoelectric transducers against the electrode parts whereby the tension of the string may be adjusted by both the string tension mechanism and the transducer pushing mechanism and the vibration from each string is independently sensed.

Abstract: A bridge for an electric string bass or other stringed musical instrument includes a base adapted for attachment to the body of the instrument and a number of saddles for individually supporting the strings, the saddles being adjustably movable to different positions relative to the base, in the direction along the length of the strings, to adjust the string intonation. The saddles may include piezoelectric elements for providing electrical signals and, in this case, the base may further include a covered recess for housing a plurality of volume controls each associated with a respective one of the strings. The saddles are designed and arranged on the base to support the strings with a given curvature matching that of the fret board and an adjustment means is provided for raising, lowering and/or tilting the base relative to the body to bring the strings into proper height adjustment relative to the frets.

Abstract: A string instrument, such as a guitar, includes an instrument body, a neck portion, pivotably coupled to the body by means of a joint, to permit pivotal movement of the neck portion between an operative and a folded position, a string mount moveably mounted on the body, at least one string, one end portion of which is secured to the string mount and the other end portion of which is secured to the neck portion, and drive means for moving the spring mount, which is coupled to the spring mount and the joint. The drive means moves the spring mount in direct response to pivotal movement of the neck portion about the joint, so as to maintain the original length and tension of the at least one string, when the neck portion is moved between the operative and folded positions thereof.

Abstract: A novel musical instrument is provided which comprises a resonance body member, a bridge, a neck piece, a tailpiece, a neck stabilizer and a tailpiece stabilizer all in combination with the resonance body member. A variable can size adjustment means is provided whereby body members of different lengths and sizes may be utilized.

Abstract: A guitar, the neck of which is hinged to the guitar body so as to be foldable into a shaped recess in the back of the body. The strings of the guitar are individually attached at one end to the neck and at the other end to a common bridge unit. The bridge unit is attached to a first clamp on the face of the body in the erect position of the neck and to a second clamp recessed below the face side of the body in the folded neck position. Grooves are formed in the guitar body to individually retain each guitar string in the folded neck position.

Abstract: A stringed instrument having a fretboard with a sawtooth surface profile with the crests of the teeth in the normal fret positions.Optionally the instrument may have a rotatable nut of generally cylindrical form having a plurality of annular grooves therein, one groove for each string of the instrument. The nut is so mounted or the grooves are so shaped that on rotation of the nut, the heights of the strings from the surface of the fretboard are varied simultaneously.

Abstract: In a bridge for stringed instruments of the type including a plurality of independently movable drums which permit independent adjustment of the length and height of each string of the instrument, there is disclosed an improved construction wherein all of the drums are urged axially into contact with each other and a fixed post to reduce vibration of the drums and wherein the adjustment holes through the drums are arranged to prevent fraying of the sleeve of a player of the instrument as such sleeve passes over the bridge.

Abstract: Soundboards for stringed musical instruments comprising radially/circumferentially anisotropic sheets. The soundboards may be constructed of wooden wedges arranged so that the wood grain radiates from the focal point of the sheet. The soundboards preferably have at least a partially rounded periphery. Stringed instruments containing the novel soundboards are disclosed wherein the strings are coupled to the soundboards through a bridge located near the focal point of the soundboard.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved bridge for stringed musical instruments which bridge is shaped, for preferred embodiments, so as to provide maximum, and substantially uniform, mechanical compliance between the bridge and the soundboard of the instrument over the full frequency range of the instrument while still being wide enough at each point along its length to effectively couple the frequency of vibrations to be driven by the bridge at that point. For alternative embodiments, the shape of the bridge is altered at one or more selected points along its length, altering the mechanical compliance at these points in a predetermined manner. These variations cause the instruments to have a predetermined frequency response characteristic.

Abstract: Devices for supporting guitar strings at the bridge and nut ends of the keyboard include a body portion with an axially vertical threaded bore that houses a screw element. A slot is provided in the body so that the string rests and is supported on the upper surface of the element. The element has a surface recess adapted for reception of a tool used to raise and lower the element in the bore and to thus raise and lower the support for the string. The recess is preferably surrounded by a flat uninterrupted surface to provide a string supporting surface at all rotative positions. If movement of the support longitudinally of the string is desired, a screw member mounted on a bracket and engaging the body portion within a threaded bore below the screw element may be used.

Abstract: A bridge for a string instrument such as a guitar is utilized to dampen flexural vibrations transferred to the instrument body while maintaining direct compressional wave coupling from strings to the instrument body.